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(Rant) Metro cafes will never understand how to make real Litti Chokha

I keep clashing with “fusion food” fans at my office. In the metro food scene, the fastest way to ruin a dish is by gentrifying it. You don’t experience real flavors while sitting in an air-conditioned cafe eating baked dough balls. You learn what Litti Chokha is when a vendor roasts it over coal and crushes it right there. You appreciate it when you grab a quick bite after a brutal Monday commute and feel the hit of raw mustard oil. Ceramic plates full of microgreens can’t teach you that. People swap all of this for the comfort of plush chairs and taking pictures. Nice you got a good photo. Meanwhile, the guy who walks to the dusty corner stall is getting the authentic smoky punch, getting full, and has a vendor who knows his spice tolerance, not just his table number. Guess who eats better? Modern cafes work if you’re just eating for social media. If you love traditional food, every cafe visit is a missed chance to eat well. Don’t trade authentic taste for short-term convenience. You only get one lunch break to satisfy that craving, choose wisely.